Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Spirit Week

At Odyssey Prepatory Academy, this week is all about spirit. Yesterday was Hero Day - come to school dressed as your favorite hero. Jillian wanted to be Word Girl from the PBS series of the same name but unfortunately, Nathan could not find his cape and her idea of wearing her underwear on the outside of her shorts was veto-ed. So, no superhero. Chloe and Nathan weren't interested in participating in Hero Day. Today is a different story. We're been planning for Crazy Sock and Crazy Hair day for weeks. These are the results of our planning. Jillian is Pippy Longstocking -- or, in her words, Hippie Lockingston. She simply cannot get that poor girl's name right. Chloe's head ended up looking like a soccer ball. She was thrilled with the results. She has 9 ponytails, all with different colored rubber bands. They are both wearing crazy socks, too although you can't tell by these pictures. Chloe is sporting her tall, fuzzy purple striped socks that were a gift from one of the nurses when she had her appendix taken out. Jillian is wearing the yellow pair of socks that we tye-dyed especially for this occassion. Yellow is her new favorite color.

Nathan was much more hesitant to participate... His hair is getting long and he is in need of a haircut so my proposition was that we shave the sides of his head, like we're going to anyway when he gets a haircut, but leave the middle portion long so that he can have a mohawk for just one day. Or, we could just gel out all his long hair so that he has a 'fro going on.... Neither of these ideas were acceptable and in fact, he looked at me like I suggested he go to school in a dress. Up until the last minute, I was trying to convince him that it is okay to look silly in the name of school spirit. He wasn't having anything to do with the idea. Lowell even got on board and encouraged him, to no avail. In the end, he went to school with normal hair but wearing my black striped socks. I will celebrate small victories, I suppose. :)

When we got to school and the kids were waiting to get out of the car, Chloe started getting nervous, wondering if she was going to be the only one in her class with crazy hair. She was very relieved when we saw some of the other students walking to class with even crazier, more outrageous hairstyles.

I have a very different view of spirit week as a mother than I did as a student. I appreciate that, in a school where the dress code is VERY strict, they allow the students the freedom to be expressive on these days. They still have to wear their uniform, but at least they can accessorize 4 days out of the year. Also, I like how my children are learning to be individuals and to not be afraid of expressing themselves. I like that they are learning to take risks without knowing if they will be accepted by their peers, and that, at least my girls, are okay with standing out and being different. I am hoping that they are learning to be leaders -- leaders that can encourage their fellow students to be involved in appropriate, safe, fun activities instead of those that are against the rules or those that detract from their educational experiences.

I was very impressed with Lowell last night when he was talking to Nathan about having school spirit. Lowell was not one to get involved in these types of things when he was growing up and he openly admits it. But last night, he shared with the kids that he believes he would be better at dealing with people, making friends, and being in crowds, if he learned early to be part of a group - to be part of the student body. I was really surprised and very pleased that he took the time to share his experiences. I think his input may have been what got Nathan into my socks this morning. So, thanks Daddy -- we love you!

"Faith in faith is pointless. Faith in a living active God moves mountains". - Beth Moore

"Y'know, this was supposed to be my weekend off, but noooo. You got me out here draggin' your heavy ass through the burnin' desert with your dreadlocks stickin' out the back of my parachute. You gotta come down here with an attitude, actin' all big and bad... And what the hell is that smell? I could've been at a barbecue! ... But I ain't mad." - Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) Independence Day We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.- C. S. Lewis

"No wonder they execute people at dawn. Who wants to live at six A.M.?" - Hawkeye MASH"We got no problem... We got one problem." - BJ Hunnicut MASH"The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." -- Albert Schweitzer"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." -- Vaclav Havel"If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are." -- Zen proverb"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." -- Meister Eckhart

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert EinsteinI believe in God as I believe the sun has risen, not because I can see it, but because by way of it I can see everything else.- C.S. Lewis

Ross: Hey guys. Does anybody know a good date place in the neighborhood? Joey: How about Tony's? If you can finish a thirty-two-ounce steak, it's free. Ross: Okay. Hey, does anyone know a good place if you're not dating a puma?- FriendsGod, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.- C. S. Lewis

My Bible Verse

Colossians 3: 15-17

This is the verse I have tatooed on my ankle and, I'm ashamed to say, I don't have it memorized. So I'm putting it here so that I will read it frequently, and also so that you can appreciate it with me. And maybe you'll be moved to memorize it with me. :)"Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (NLT)